It’s Friday night and it’s France!

[normanski]

France looked awesome at times against Scotland and I think they will be coming to Cardiff a week on Friday to add another notch on their Grand Slam belt.

In the past, France usually had one outstanding game and one lousy game per championship. Let’s hope Cardiff is their lousy night if history repeats itself!

I think we can spring a few surprises.

[Sandydragon]

They were brutally effective against Ireland and Scotland and if they can maintain some sort of consistency then they should win their first grand slam for a while. You never know which France will turn up but they were on the ball yesterday and we will need to be much better to pose them a problem.

The shoots of improvement are there for us but this is one game I'm really not optimistic about. Mind you if we can get off to a decent start and put some pressure on then anything is possible.

[normanski]

They were brutally effective against Ireland and Scotland and if they can maintain some sort of consistency then they should win their first grand slam for a while. You never know which France will turn up but they were on the ball yesterday and we will need to be much better to pose them a problem.

The shoots of improvement are there for us but this is one game I'm really not optimistic about. Mind you if we can get off to a decent start and put some pressure on then anything is possible.

Wales seem to step up the more daunting the task (except against the All Blacks) and we are on an upward curve.

At least we will have the crowd behind us.

[normanski]

They were brutally effective against Ireland and Scotland and if they can maintain some sort of consistency then they should win their first grand slam for a while. You never know which France will turn up but they were on the ball yesterday and we will need to be much better to pose them a problem.

The shoots of improvement are there for us but this is one game I'm really not optimistic about. Mind you if we can get off to a decent start and put some pressure on then anything is possible.

Wales seem to step up the more daunting the task (except against the All Blacks) and we are on an upward curve.

At least we will have the crowd behind us.

[Son of Mathonwy]

So far the competition seems split into 3 tiers: 1) France with Ireland just behind; 2) Wales, England and Scotland (in no particular order); 3) Italy.

Friday is our chance to break that pattern by beating France (or at least pushing them close). We exceeded my expectations last year by being ahead for most of the match - in Paris, no less - so we can do this in Cardiff. If we defend like yesterday (for the whole 80), it's possible. Give us a decent ref and we have a real chance, but we'll need to take points when the opportunity arises - being nilled in the first half killed us yesterday, despite the comeback.

[francoisfou]

Matthew Carley is the ref and you’ll need him firmly on your side to have any hope of staying within touch if France. I no longer agree with, “we don’t know which France will turn up, as there’s a new discipline installed in the side which you’ll see a week on Friday. From your point of view, there were encouraging signs against England. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cuthbert so positively involved in a red shirt and Basham at 7 is impressive. France, however, have a couple of weeks’ training to prepare and will hopefully be at full strength, although I’m not sure if winger Villière will be fit, and will move on towards a Grand Slam match against England.

[normanski]

Hi Francois, how do you see the game going? Another walkover BP or a far closer fought game.

[francoisfou]

Hi Francois, how do you see the game going? Another walkover BP or a far closer fought game.

Hi, Norm. On current form, France would win four out of five times, and I firmly believe (and hope!) they’ll win in Cardiff, so I suppose I’m saying that you have a chance, but France would need to have a significantly poor match to give you that chance. Fabien Galthié is building an impressive squad in readiness for next year’s World Cup and will expect a bp win. The key will be a good start to silence the crowd and if we gain the upper hand by half time, I honestly can’t see them allowing Wales back into the game, which they are well capable of doing, as we saw against England.

[Sandydragon]

The French team is impressive and there aren’t too many weaknesses. Against Italy they were caught a bit cold and perhaps didn’t take the opposition seriously, but still won comfortably.

It would take a big game from our best XV to win. Whilst we are improving it’s a big step up for this welsh team.

[Numbers]

Hi Francois, how do you see the game going? Another walkover BP or a far closer fought game.

Hi, Norm. On current form, France would win four out if five times, and I firmly believe (and hope!) they’ll win in Cardiff, so I suppose I’m saying that you have a chance, but France would need to have a significantly poor match to give you that chance. Fabien Galthié is building an impressive squad in readiness for next year’s World Cup and will expect a bp win. The key will be a good start to silence the crowd and if we gain the upper hand by half time, I honestly can’t see them allowing Wales back into the game, which they are well capable of doing, as we saw against England.

We have a habit of making teams perform badly with our oppressive defence, that's our best hope of victory.

[normanski]

Hi Francois, how do you see the game going? Another walkover BP or a far closer fought game.

Hi, Norm. On current form, France would win four out if five times, and I firmly believe (and hope!) they’ll win in Cardiff, so I suppose I’m saying that you have a chance, but France would need to have a significantly poor match to give you that chance. Fabien Galthié is building an impressive squad in readiness for next year’s World Cup and will expect a bp win. The key will be a good start to silence the crowd and if we gain the upper hand by half time, I honestly can’t see them allowing Wales back into the game, which they are well capable of doing, as we saw against England.

I suppose the first twenty minutes are crucial (as ever) to both sides. If you gain ascendancy in that quarter it’ll probably be ‘goodnight Vienna’ for Wales. We are a dogged side but with French tails up we could be in for a bonus point hammering.

I hope not and that our patched up side will acquit themselves with a bit of style.

[Son of Mathonwy]

If we can get through the first 45 minutes (need to factor in a sleepy start to the second half) and be within one score, we have a good chance of winning.

It's a big if though.

[Sandydragon]

Just imagine how good we could be if we actually played for 80 minutes!? We used to have slow starts under Gatland, no idea why we are so sluggish early on.

[normanski]

Just imagine how good we could be if we actually played for 80 minutes!? We used to have slow starts under Gatland, no idea why we are so sluggish early on.

Perhaps it’s the full Welsh breakfasts they have at the vale!

[normanski]

Some possible good news that Navidi will be fit to play for Cardiff this weekend and Dai Young believes he’ll be called into the Wales squad on Monday. We could have done with him on Saturday to add even better balance to the back row.

[Numbers]

Some possible good news that Navidi will be fit to play for Cardiff this weekend and Dai Young believes he’ll be called into the Wales squad on Monday. We could have done with him on Saturday to add even better balance to the back row.

Also North due back for the Ospreys on Sunday, may be a bit too short of a turnaround for him to play Friday as well mind you.

[normanski]

It’s a pity the Calvary couldn’t have come back three weeks earlier!

[Son of Mathonwy]

Probably just a little bit late for Navidi and North to help with France (although, after the way Moriarty and Faletau bounced back, anything's possible). The shame is that although they may be fit for Italy, that's the game we should be using to develop younger players, so there's no point in rushing them back for it.

[Sandydragon]

Probably just a little bit late for Navidi and North to help with France (although, after the way Moriarty and Faletau bounced back, anything's possible). The shame is that although they may be fit for Italy, that's the game we should be using to develop younger players, so there's no point in rushing them back for it.

Yeah, if they had been playing for a few weeks then I’d play them but it’s a massive risk if they aren’t totally fit. At least Faletau had a couple of games.

And the Italy game is definitely one for the likes of Basham and Morgan.

[normanski]

Probably just a little bit late for Navidi and North to help with France (although, after the way Moriarty and Faletau bounced back, anything's possible). The shame is that although they may be fit for Italy, that's the game we should be using to develop younger players, so there's no point in rushing them back for it.

Yeah, if they had been playing for a few weeks then I’d play them but it’s a massive risk if they aren’t totally fit. At least Faletau had a couple of games.

And the Italy game is definitely one for the likes of Basham and Morgan.

The team we’ve been putting out so far is starting to show signs of improvement (after Ireland) and cohesion.

All they have to do now is play a blinder for eighty minutes next week and win! Highly improbable but equally not beyond the bounds of possibility.

I agree that we should use the Italy game for squad development but it will be important to secure a good and comprehensive win.

[Sandydragon]

If North is fit then I’d be tempted to have him on the bench for the Italy game. But I’d keep Tompkins and Watkin in the centres. I’d keep the back row as is as well.

I’m very tempted to swop our loose heads over at some point. Wyn Jones isn’t contributing that much around the park.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Probably just a little bit late for Navidi and North to help with France (although, after the way Moriarty and Faletau bounced back, anything's possible). The shame is that although they may be fit for Italy, that's the game we should be using to develop younger players, so there's no point in rushing them back for it.

Yeah, if they had been playing for a few weeks then I’d play them but it’s a massive risk if they aren’t totally fit. At least Faletau had a couple of games.

And the Italy game is definitely one for the likes of Basham and Morgan.

The team we’ve been putting out so far is starting to show signs of improvement (after Ireland) and cohesion.

All they have to do now is play a blinder for eighty minutes next week and win! Highly improbable but equally not beyond the bounds of possibility.

I agree that we should use the Italy game for squad development but it will be important to secure a good and comprehensive win.

Of course, in certain scenarios we might need a big points win against Italy to improve our final position, in which case we can't take too many risks. We shall see what next week brings.

[Numbers]

North no longer playing on Sunday.

[Sandydragon]

Yeah, if they had been playing for a few weeks then I’d play them but it’s a massive risk if they aren’t totally fit. At least Faletau had a couple of games.

And the Italy game is definitely one for the likes of Basham and Morgan.

The team we’ve been putting out so far is starting to show signs of improvement (after Ireland) and cohesion.

All they have to do now is play a blinder for eighty minutes next week and win! Highly improbable but equally not beyond the bounds of possibility.

I agree that we should use the Italy game for squad development but it will be important to secure a good and comprehensive win.

Of course, in certain scenarios we might need a big points win against Italy to improve our final position, in which case we can't take too many risks. We shall see what next week brings.

Very good point. If we beat France or at even close and pick up a BP then we might want a very big win to avoid 5th place.

[Sandydragon]

North no longer playing on Sunday.

But there’s a suggestion AWJ could return. I have mixed feelings about that. France would be a massive game to put him back in for unless he is definitely fit. No rugby for six months or more and then that game.